Tips for Teething
Cleaning Teeth (click here for more information)
Caring for your baby’s oral health should start soon after birth! Although your baby may not have any teeth yet, it is still important to keep their gums clean and healthy to prevent the development of oral diseases and infections. You can use a moistened washcloth to wipe gums clean after each feeding or as needed. This will help with removing plaques that can cause problems to erupting teeth. Once the primary teeth start to come in, these teeth are prone to cavities and tooth decay. Babies at this age are too young to properly brush their own teeth and will require your help! Brush their teeth gently using a baby toothbrush moistened with water on a daily basis <1,2>.
Caring for your baby’s oral health should start soon after birth! Although your baby may not have any teeth yet, it is still important to keep their gums clean and healthy to prevent the development of oral diseases and infections. You can use a moistened washcloth to wipe gums clean after each feeding or as needed. This will help with removing plaques that can cause problems to erupting teeth. Once the primary teeth start to come in, these teeth are prone to cavities and tooth decay. Babies at this age are too young to properly brush their own teeth and will require your help! Brush their teeth gently using a baby toothbrush moistened with water on a daily basis <1,2>.
Nutrition for Children
Eating healthy is essential for proper growth and development of a child. Many foods will contain sugar, even healthy foods (contains natural sugars)! Always try to choose food items with no or low sugar content. Reading food labels is a great way of checking for sugars. Sometimes liquid medicines also contain sugars <1,2>. Ask your pharmacist to help you choose sugar-free medications whenever possible!
Eating healthy is essential for proper growth and development of a child. Many foods will contain sugar, even healthy foods (contains natural sugars)! Always try to choose food items with no or low sugar content. Reading food labels is a great way of checking for sugars. Sometimes liquid medicines also contain sugars <1,2>. Ask your pharmacist to help you choose sugar-free medications whenever possible!
Preventing Cavities
Remember that your child’s teeth will be prone to cavities and tooth decay as soon as they erupt from the gums. To help prevent cavities, avoid giving your baby sugary drinks and foods. Do not give babies teething biscuits, as these often contain sugar. Other sources of sugar can come from mother’s milk, cow’s milk and formula. Babies should not be given a bottle of milk to bed as this can increase their risk of getting cavities <1,2>.
Remember that your child’s teeth will be prone to cavities and tooth decay as soon as they erupt from the gums. To help prevent cavities, avoid giving your baby sugary drinks and foods. Do not give babies teething biscuits, as these often contain sugar. Other sources of sugar can come from mother’s milk, cow’s milk and formula. Babies should not be given a bottle of milk to bed as this can increase their risk of getting cavities <1,2>.
Fluoride (click here for more information)
Fluoride can naturally be found in a variety of sources, such as oceans, lakes and food. Fluoride can also be added to our tap water and toothpastes to help prevent tooth decay by making our tooth enamel stronger. The use of fluoride toothpaste is not needed until a child is approximately 3 years of age. At this age, your child should have their first set of twenty primary teeth. Children who are at high risk of tooth decay and cavities may require brushing with fluoride toothpaste <1,2>. Talk with your dentist to find out if your child is at risk of developing tooth decay and whether or not they should be using fluoride.
Fluoride can naturally be found in a variety of sources, such as oceans, lakes and food. Fluoride can also be added to our tap water and toothpastes to help prevent tooth decay by making our tooth enamel stronger. The use of fluoride toothpaste is not needed until a child is approximately 3 years of age. At this age, your child should have their first set of twenty primary teeth. Children who are at high risk of tooth decay and cavities may require brushing with fluoride toothpaste <1,2>. Talk with your dentist to find out if your child is at risk of developing tooth decay and whether or not they should be using fluoride.
Pacifiers and Thumb Sucking
It is completely normal for babies to suck their thumbs, fingers or pacifiers. However, never dip pacifiers with sugary foods (ex. honey) and give to the baby, as this can increase the baby’s risk of getting cavities and develop tooth decay. It may be easier to control how often your child is sucking with a pacifier compared to sucking on their own thumb and fingers. Do not clean pacifiers with your own mouth. Bacteria in your mouth will spread onto the pacifier and get passed along to the baby. Cavities in the baby can result from these bacteria <1,2>!
It is completely normal for babies to suck their thumbs, fingers or pacifiers. However, never dip pacifiers with sugary foods (ex. honey) and give to the baby, as this can increase the baby’s risk of getting cavities and develop tooth decay. It may be easier to control how often your child is sucking with a pacifier compared to sucking on their own thumb and fingers. Do not clean pacifiers with your own mouth. Bacteria in your mouth will spread onto the pacifier and get passed along to the baby. Cavities in the baby can result from these bacteria <1,2>!
First Dental Visit
It is recommended by the Canadian Dental Association that your baby’s first visit to the dentist should be within 6 months after the first primary tooth eruption or at one year of age. This will allow your dentist to assess for any teeth problems (such as early childhood tooth decay) and find out if you're doing a good job cleaning their teeth at home <1>.
It is recommended by the Canadian Dental Association that your baby’s first visit to the dentist should be within 6 months after the first primary tooth eruption or at one year of age. This will allow your dentist to assess for any teeth problems (such as early childhood tooth decay) and find out if you're doing a good job cleaning their teeth at home <1>.
References:
1. Canadian Dental Association. Dental Care for Children. http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/cfyt/dental_care_children/ Accessed June 26, 2013.
2. American Dental Association. Mouth Healthy Babies and Kids. http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids/ Accessed June 26, 2013.
Images:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-keaPAl9sHLk/UT9Kij0uXVI/AAAAAAAAALs/AVTxb7ws4-M/s1600/baby-teeth-care.jpg
http://drupalcdn.bounty.com/sites/default/files/images/health/baby-teeth-95035457.jpg
http://bornangels.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Milk-powder-in-babys-diet.jpg
http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/feeding-baby.jpg
http://toxicfreeawareness.com/files/2011/05/flouride.jpg
http://www.fiverealmoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/baby-with-pacifier.jpg
http://www.popular-pics.com/PPImages/funny_masks_dentist_3.jpg
1. Canadian Dental Association. Dental Care for Children. http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/cfyt/dental_care_children/ Accessed June 26, 2013.
2. American Dental Association. Mouth Healthy Babies and Kids. http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids/ Accessed June 26, 2013.
Images:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-keaPAl9sHLk/UT9Kij0uXVI/AAAAAAAAALs/AVTxb7ws4-M/s1600/baby-teeth-care.jpg
http://drupalcdn.bounty.com/sites/default/files/images/health/baby-teeth-95035457.jpg
http://bornangels.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Milk-powder-in-babys-diet.jpg
http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/feeding-baby.jpg
http://toxicfreeawareness.com/files/2011/05/flouride.jpg
http://www.fiverealmoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/baby-with-pacifier.jpg
http://www.popular-pics.com/PPImages/funny_masks_dentist_3.jpg